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109
Measles occurs in epidemic form every two years and usually lasts for four
months. The incidence in each of the twelve months of the year was as follows:—
January 168 February 367 March 350
April 353 May 614 June 381
July 62 August 3 September 20
October 50 November 12 December 12
From these figures it will be noted that the disease first assumed epidemic
proportions in January, reached its peak in May, and fell away thereafter.
The Council's scheme for dealing with Measles epidemics was put in force at
the beginning of the year, two temporary health visitors being appointed for Measles
work. They investigated every reported case of Measles from whatever source
information came ; they visited cases absent from school from unknown causes
and every case of suspected Measles. The staff health visitors made subsequent
visits to cases where children were under school age, but where they were of school
age the subsequent visits were made by the temporary health visitors.
Notices were sent to head teachers when the diagnosis of Measles was not
confirmed and when suspect cases were diagnosed as Measles.
The co-operation between the School Medical Service and the Department was
excellent, visits being paid to every home where cases of Measles or suspected Measles
were living, within 24 hours of the teacher sending the notification to the Department.
The scheme worked very well in other respects. It enabled the normal routine
work of the health visitors to be maintained with very little disturbance ; it ensured
the early diagnosis of secondary cases and their exclusion from school in an infectious
state; it ensured the early provision of nursing assistance and it enabled arrangements
to be made for the early admission of cases to hospital where necessary. In
every way the Council's policy was justified.
Home Nursing.—In 33 cases nursing assistance was provided during the year,
410 visits in all being paid. The cost to the Council was £20.
Hospital Treatment.—The number of children admitted to fever hospitals was
188.
Deaths.—There were 10 deaths from Measles during the year.
Pneumonia.
The number of cases notified was 280, compared with 249 in 1933. Of these,
7 were influenzal. The number of deaths certified to be due to lobar or broncho
pneumonia was 126 and to acute influenzal pneumonia 6. The ward incidence of
the Pneumonias is shown in Table No. 37.